Life as a family of four

Things have changed since 1972

While visiting my father the other day, I stumbled across a book in his bookcase – ‘Everywoman’. This is a book subtitled ‘A Gynaecological Guide for Life’ that was published in 1972. It primarily covers pregnancy and childbirth.

The book features strongly in my childhood memories – my mother showed us the pictures of baby in utero as my younger sister grew to help us to understand. I am pleased to be able to now show the same images to Princess.

It’s hilarious to read, and some of the advice it imparts is really quite incredible. Here are my favourites:

The pregnant woman should wear the clothes in which she is her most attractive, but which are comfortable at the same time. The pregnant woman should aim to look as attractive as possible, and not be a frump!

The pregnant woman should eat green leafy vegetables at least three times a week.

Some carbohydrates are needed, but as the expectant mother has to pay attention to her weight, she should eat these sparingly.

There’s also an example of a suitable daily diet – but it contains NO fruit!

If the expectant mother normally takes no exercise beyond housework, she need not change her habits.

To the annoyance of the intellectually alert expectant mother, she notes an increasing placidity and drowsiness as pregnancy advances. She no longer has the clarity of mind and the precision of thought she had before. Even small intellectual matters become a trial; to do anything is an effort and she fears she is becoming bovine.

Expectant mothers should avoid excessive smoking although as far as the baby is concerned, less than 10 cigarettes day can be smoked without any harm.

If an expectant mother gains more than 16kg or 35lb in pregnancy, she will find it almost impossible to loose the extra weight. Her clothes will not fit, her sylph-like figure will be a memory, and perhaps her husband will object. And that wouldn’t do!

During the first stage of labour, she will not be permitted to eat any solid food and she may not be permitted to drink any fluids. She will be confined to bed if the membranes have ruptured.

It’s quite amazing to think that these were the things that my mother was taught when she was having me.

And then there’s the part about female homosexuality. Not so funny. ‘Homosexuality is due to a defect in personality development’; ‘Ultimately the sexual inclinations of the child are determined by the attitudes of the parents, and some parents unwittingly encourage homosexuality in their children’; ‘Psychiatry can help, but the extent to which it will help differs with each individual. However, if the emotional problem is real, it is worth a try’. At least he states that understanding and sympathy for the lesbian is more appropriate rather than disapproval, and that compassion and tolerance is better than derision.

I am so glad that things have changed so much, even if I am often frustrated by continuing ignorance and prejudice!

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3 Responses

Hey I put on more than 20kgs both times and I don’t feel bovine now. Found a good website with cool baby clothes and thought of you, they’re by a friend of a friend: don’t know how to add it as a link, sorry…

My mom remembers visits to her gynocologist where she sat in his office with him and they both smoked!! Nice.
And she tells the birth story of my sister (1969) where they patted her on the head (literally) and said, “you’re having a baby, dear.” And after the birth they took the baby and left her lying in the bed in the dark for about an hour…no conact with ANYONE, not even my dad.
And….on my birth certificate (1974) there is a place for father’s occupation, but that space is blank on the mother’s side of the form. Funny to me since I was a little kid since my mom worked outside of the house and my dad had his business at home.